Secretary of Defense-designate Pete Hegseth encountered a series of criticisms during the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing today. A notable moment was marked by the slurred speech of Hawaii’s senior Democratic senator, who struggled to express her indignation at the prospect of Hegseth assisting President-elect Donald Trump in a potential military action against Greenland.
In recent days, liberals have expressed intense outrage following Trump’s statement on Sunday, where he suggested that he could not dismiss the possibility of employing military force or economic pressure to compel Denmark to relinquish Greenland, a strategically significant territory in close proximity to Russia. During the hearing on Tuesday, Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) sought to question Trump’s nominee regarding whether he would consider using military force to seize Greenland or any ally of Denmark. Hegseth skillfully commended his superior while refraining from commenting on hypothetical future military actions. “Senator, one of the things that President Trump excels at is never revealing his strategic intentions,” he responded, “and thus, I would not disclose any such considerations in this public setting…”
Senator Hirono appeared visibly frustrated by Hegseth’s evasive response, yet her difficulty in articulating her thoughts clearly hampered her attempts to interject. Ironically, her slurred speech occurred while she raised concerns about allegations of Hegseth’s struggles with alcohol. “I have encountered numerous reports indicating that you have been intoxicated at work, including accounts from colleagues at Fox News. Are you aware that being under the influence at work is against the regulations for service members under the [U.S. Code of Military Justice]?” Hirono inquired. When Hegseth pointed out that she was relying on “false, anonymous reports” that questioned his character, the senator attempted to speak over his response before conceding. “I’m not receiving an answer to my question,” she complained. “In your opening statement, you committed to holding leaders accountable.”
Hirono was unable to hold her allies in the audience responsible during the hearing, which was disrupted by at least three protestors intent on silencing Hegseth, who arrived equipped with evidence to counter her claims. Throughout the three-hour session, the former Fox News anchor articulated his strong support from colleagues at the network and military personnel who had served alongside him globally, while also commending his leadership abilities. Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-MS) commenced the proceedings by inquiring whether there was any validity to the damaging series of reports that nearly jeopardized his confirmation. “Regrettably, the media in America today is indifferent to the truth. Their sole objective, Mr. Chairman, is to destroy me,” asserted a resolute Hegseth. “And why do they seek to undermine me? Because I am a catalyst for change and a threat to them, as Donald Trump chose me to empower and restore the Defense Department to its rightful focus: warfighting.”
